Marouane Fellaini has rediscovered the form he used to use against Manchester United and has weighed in with some absolutely vital goals for the club in 2014-15.
Playing either in behind the striker or up top himself, he has provided dramatic winners and late equalisers home and away over the past few months – becoming a lethal weapon going forward for Louis van Gaal.
However, the Belgian international thinks that in his upcoming third season in red, he can instead be United’s answer in central defensive midfield. With Michael Carrick needing either a partner or an understudy, names such as Nainggolan, Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin have been floating around as potential targets this summer, but the aggressive Fellaini feels he can deliver the goods; “I’m happy to play there and win some important games.”
“I see myself as a defensive midfielder,” he said. “I feel comfortable playing there and if the manager decides he wants to play me there, I will.
Fellani is adamant that his best position is in front of the back four, where perhaps his aerial ability and ruthless work ethic could provide more protection for his defensive colleagues. This may be more useful in some matches than in others, as a sometimes reckless giant probably wouldn’t be the most effective player against the likes of Lionel Messi in the Champions League, however more physical opponents such as Galatasaray may require a more bolshy character at the back – which Fellaini certainly can be.
When he has played frequently and been happy he has been a menace for the Red Devils – confidence is key to good form, so will Louis van Gaal consider the Belgian’s offer to drop deeper?
